TRTSS1: The Warrior of Stars! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: R1/2, SM, ST, and the other genres belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is a multi-genre story.
Part 17
A day later, the Galactic Republic's "Open Circle Fleet" (with its "Third Systems Army") assembled in orbit around Naboo. Since the start of the so-called, Clone Wars, several key events have occurred between the time of the Battle of Geonosis, and the military campaigns on both the planet Atari (led by Jedis Yoda, Ranma Saotome and Shaak Ti) and the more recent campaign on Dantooine (led by Jedis Windu and Ami Mizuno):
Immediately following the Battle of Geonosis, the Jedi Council sent two Jedi Knights and a Jedi Padawan to the planet Bakura, where Count Dooku had a base there. Only Ranma survived the mission, after engaging in combat against Dooku himself, being more experienced with the light-based weapon. Unfortunately, Dooku survived as well, by making his escape.
Master Windu sent his padawan Ami to accompany seasoned Jedis to find and capture a scientist from the Techno Union (the people who created the heavy combat droids that almost killed the Jedi on Geonosis). Apparently, Ami had been in contact with this scientist anonymously as a "chat buddy" on a bulletin board for "geeks", and had convinced him to defect to the Republic.
While on a diplomatic mission on Kashyyk, home planet of the Wookies, Jedis Yoda and Ranma, with the help Senator Padme Amidala and the young Chewbacca, warded off a invasion of the Separatist of Kashyyk long enough for Republic reinforcements to arrive. Meanwhile, on Tanttooine, Usagi, while on a supply-run for her "senior partner" Watto, discovered a secret Separatist facility, where she learned that a "secret weapons project" was being conducted. She, along with her friend Shimi, sabotaged the facility, and contacted the Jedi for help. It would be because of this that the Jedi Council would ultimately lessen its prohibition for Usagi's re-admittance back into the ranks of the Jedi.
Unfortunately, not all encounters with the Separatists ended with victory on the side of the Republic. Over the course of weeks, Jedis Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Ranma and Ami had to participate on rescue missions on such Core Worlds like Rhen Var, Raxus Prime, Bespin and Ossus. This was in part because of the discovery of an ancient Sith Weapon known as a "Dark Reaper ", a weapon that kills most life—plant and animal— of an entire planet upon its activation. The Separatists had no problem in using it because of their use of droid soldiers. However, thanks to Anakin's discovery of a major flaw of the weapon on Rhen Vahr, the Jedis were able to neutralize the deployment and effectiveness of the weapon on the densely populated world of Thule. In fact, Ami's effort at "reverse engineering" would lead the Republic to mass-produce the counter of the Dark Reaper, rendering its effectiveness null and void.
Other exploits include the defense of the cloning facilities on Camino, the prevention of the deployment of bio-weapons on Naboo (after discovering the unfortunate discovery of the mass killing of Gugans of Naboo's moon of Ohma-D'un), the destruction of the ship-destroying missile facility on Pengalan IV, the destruction of a second bio-weapon facility on Qiilura, the exposing of a number of traitorous Jedi on Ruul, and the rescue of a Republic senator from terrorists (thanks to Ranma's efforts at creating a special operations unit known, made up of clones, known as "Omega Squad"). Such exploits would rally the Jedi, as they continued to fight against an almost relentless foe…
Due to the fact that Obi-Wan, Anakin, Ranma and Ami proved to have more success than the other Jedis throughout this conflict, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine authorized the creation of a special task for dedicated to those missions deemed nearly impossible for success. The aforementioned Jedi would command this fleet, called the "Open Circle Fleet", with Obi-Wan serving as the senior commander. With its inauguration, the fleet's first mission will be to secure the base on the frost world of Arctica, where a Separatist supply hub was located. It has been thought that if the hub was taken out, such a move could put the Separatists on the defensive.
Nevertheless, in spite of the parameters of the mission, there was a silver lining in all this…
"Ranma!" Usagi yells, as she performs a super glomp maneuver.
GLOMP!
"Oof!" Ranma yells, as he falls over.
BAM!
"Ow…"
"It's good to see you, Ranma!"
Just then, Usagi's pet cabbit "Tho-Ohki" comes running down the hall towards Ranma.
"Meow!" Tho-ohki yowled, as he tackled Ranma.
WHAM!
"Ack!"
"See?" Usagi said. "Tho-ohki misses you, too!"
"So I noticed…ouch…"
Naboo councilor Hoshi merely giggles, while fellow councilor T'Pol shook her head in disgust. For the past ten years, Hoshi and T'Pol have actively engaged the politics of Naboo, by being a part of its government. T'Pol's marriage into the Naboo's royal family, specifically the House of Amidala, a few years back would assure her a chance to someday be elected monarch, should the desire to run for the position be desired. There was a less of a chance of this happening with Hoshi because she was not married into royalty. And although T'Pol and Hoshi would continue to remain close to Ranma, they both agreed that being immortal, coupled with the fact that Ranma was busy with his life within the Jedi Order, certain allowances had to be made for other types of relationships, though, as T'Pol always puts it, such a scenario merely gave the martial artist an excuse to see other women…
"Usagi, please," Obi-Wan said, as he motions his padawan to stand up, so as to not embarrass the Jedi in front of the Council of Naboo.
"Er, sorry, master," Usagi said, as she lets go.
"Usagi never changes," Anakin said with a smirk.
"Be nice, Ani," Kasumi chided. On the other hand, as much as she wanted to throw her arms around her husband, their secret marriage had to be maintained.
"Oh, that reminds me, Ani," Usagi said, as she pulls out a package from her travel bag. "Your mother wanted me to give this you, the next time I saw you."
"What is it?" Anakin said, as he takes the package.
"A letter with some baked treats."
"Cool!"
"Senator Amidala, I take it that the conference on Alderaan was a success?" Obi-Wan asked.
"We made some progress, though not enough," Kasumi said with a sigh. "At the very least, we've initiated plans to insure that the so-called 'Grand Army of the Galactic Republic' have the proper over-sight."
"That is a good thing indeed," T'Pol said with a firm nod. "History has shown what would happen if an organized military structure is answerable to no one."
"Well, the Grand Army is answerable to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, and he had the wisdom and foresight to request a standing army," Anakin said. "We should trust his judgment."
"Padawan Anakin, it is not that we do not trust the chancellor," Hoshi said. "But from my experience, the possibility of corruption is always there."
"With all due respect, Councilor Hoshi, that sounds like Separatist talk," Anakin said.
"Anakin, a healthy level of skepticism is always a good thing, no matter who's in charge," Ranma said. "Otherwise, Master Jinn would not have gone out of his way to take you as his apprentice, in spite of the misgivings of the council."
"Humph. Like you know everything."
"Well, I do know what I am talking about from experience. Maybe you should listen to those who know what they are talking about for a change."
"What?" Anakin fumed. "Are you saying that I am not good enough to have a discussion on these topics?"
"Please," Kasumi said, as she interceded between Ranma and Anakin. "There is no reason to be intense about political philosophy."
"And besides, we have much preparations to do before we begin our campaign on Arctica," Kenobi said.
"Okay," Anakin said, as he gives Ranma the dirty look, as he turns away.
"That is good," Kasumi said, as she begins to lead Anakin away. "I will see you all in the morning…"
Later that night…
"That Ranma…is SUCH jerk," Anakin said, as he ate dinner with his wife. "He's always trying to show me up. Me…the chosen one!"
"Anakin, Ranma is just trying to share his experience with you, that's all," Kasumi said.
"So, you're on his side?" Anakin said. "What happened between you and he?"
"Anakin, I am a politician," Kasumi said with a sigh. "I understand him, that's all. And why you accuse me of infidelity?"
Kasumi stares at Anakin with a disapproving look, which causes him to wither a bit.
"I'm…sorry, but I love you. And because of this stupid war, I have to worry about you getting hurt. Remember what happened on Ohma-D'un? I…I wouldn't know WHAT I would do if something happened to you, Padme…"
Kasumi sighs again. She then gets up, goes around the table and sits on Anakin's lap.
"Anakin, I married you, in spite of the rules, because I LOVE you," Kasumi said, as she ran her husband's hair with her fingers. "You have to believe that."
"I know, but it is so…difficult at times."
"I know, and that's why I love you."
"Huh?"
"Any other man, with such a great burden, would have faltered by now. THAT takes great strength, my love."
"And Ranma?"
"His strength and insights are different than yours, but it is YOU that I love, not him. So, please…trust me for once?"
Anakin smiles, as he moves in the kiss his wife.
"I'll…try."
"Do, or do not, never try," Kasumi said, after imitating Master Yoda voice.
"Humph," Anakin said with a smile, as he pulls Kasumi into his arms…
Elsewhere…
Hoshi breathes a sigh of relief, as Ranma rolls unto his side of her bed.
"That was…good, my husband," Hoshi said, as she continued to ride the waves of her time with Ranma.
"Yeah, I guess," Ranma said.
Hoshi turns towards Ranma.
"What do you mean…you guess?" Hoshi said.
"Okay, it was excellent," Ranma said. "Honest!"
"Humph," Hoshi said as she fully face her husband. "Ranma, I want you to stop seeing those other women."
"What…other women?" Ranma said, as he perform sweat drop.
"Does the names Luminara, Shaak Ti and Aayla Secura ring any bells?" Hoshi asked innocently.
"Um, OH! Yeah, I remember…"
"Good, because I want you to stop seeing them."
"I thought you didn't mind, Hoshi? I mean…I didn't stop YOU from dating that Baron a few years back."
"That's because I want to have more children with you, that's why."
"But Jedis can't start families…"
"I see…"
Hoshi reaches into a dresser drawer, and pulls out a holographic disc generator. She then activates it.
CHIRP!
"Hey!" Ranma yells, as he tries to cover Hoshi and himself up. "Master Yoda, do you mind?"
"Ranma, it's a recording," Hoshi said with a smirk.
"Oh."
"Permission he does, to start a family, Councilor Hoshi of Naboo," Yoda said. "Distraction he needs, my padawan does. Off limits, Jedis Luminara, Shaak Ti and Aayla Secura will be. May the Force be with you, and you up-coming happiness."
CHIRP!
"Aw, man!" Ranma said. "How embarrassing…"
"Ranma," Hoshi said, as she sets down her disc. "The only reason why there is an exception where you are concerned, is because we were married before you and Usagi joined the Jedi Order. All I ask is that I want to have more children now, and I want to make sure that their father is not known as a philanderer. Please?"
Ranma looks at Hoshi, and stares into her deep, hazel eyes…
"You're serious, aren't you?" Ranma said.
"Yes, I am, Ranma," Hoshi replied.
"But…we're immortal. Isn't the reason we only have a common law marriage, is so that we don't get bored with our relationship?"
"Yes, and I accept that. But that doesn't mean we can't be together again, at least for a season."
Ranma doesn't say anything, but touches Hoshi's face. He then pulls her face to his, and proceeded to kiss her intimately…
"Okay," Ranma said, after pulling away to speak.
"Oh, Ranma," Hoshi said, as she touches her husband's face. "I love you, Izanagi."
"And, I, you, Izanami."
The names "Izanagi" and "Izanami"—Ranma's and Hoshi's names respectively—were names that they adopted, back when they were the progenitors of the gods of Japan. In fact, Amaterasu, Susanoo and Tsukiyomi, the greatest of these gods, were Ranma and Hoshi's children…
"Then, let's get to work. Or pleasure, whichever comes first…"
And, with the snuff of a scented candle, an act of lovemaking begins under the pale of the moonlight…
Tbc.